@letsuser | Posted on | Science-Technology
What does the settling of dust storm on Mars indicate?
Software engineer at HCL technologies | Posted on
The settling of dust storm on Mars, which has struck the Martian skies since early June, is a good sign for NASA. NASA has finally seen some hope of communicating to the rover Opportunity, as the Martian skies become clear.
Rover Opportunity is active on Mars since 2004. It was launched in July 2003, under NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Program, and landed on Mars along with its twin, Spirit. The expected duration of the Rovers were 90 Earth days approximately, and Spirit ceased the communication back home in 2010. Opportunity however, was active, beyond the expectations of NASA engineers, till June 2018, until the dust storm arrested the Red Planet, and the rover ceased communication, as the dust covered its solar panels.
The dust storm is waning now, uncovering the solar panels, and the scientists hope that Opportunity would try to communicate. According to the reports, the NASA engineers would wait for 45 days to hear back, and if this does not happen, the reasons would probably be the failure of Opportunity to survive the Martian Dust Storm.
NASA’s ears however, would be open till long time, in case, Opportunity communicates with them later.
Opportunity has made many explorations on Mars which have proved useful for the mankind.
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